Trainings in Aragatsotn

19.11.2015

Within the framework of the project “Combating Gender-Biased Sex Selection in Armenia” funded by the European Commission ICHD conducted a series of trainings in Aragatsotn. The first series on November 5-6 focused on effective communication, leadership, negotiations and advocacy skills. The themes of the second on November 17-18 included gender issues and gender-based violence, reproductive rights and reproductive health, discriminatory sex selection, its causes and consequences. The participants of the sessions were the members of the Working Group of the Community of Practice (CoP) of Aragatsotn, including representatives of local and provincial authorities, regional Councils on Gender Issues, local CSOs, human rights defenders, CBOs, educational institutions, media, faith-based organisations, police, as well as health service providers, social workers, development practitioners and community leaders from the region. “International Center for Human Development” (ICHD) NGO, "Stitching Nederland Save the Children" organization ("Save the Children Netherlands"), Armavir Development Center "NGO's (AKP) "Martuni Women's Community Council" NGO (MKHKH) in cooperation with and financial support of the European Commission are undertaking the program.

Violence against women is one of the worst forms of violation of human rights prevalent all over the world. Women face gender-based violence (GBV) in workplaces, educational institutions, rural and urban communities. They are exposed to GBV irrespective of their ethnic or religious background, social status, economic standing, age, or other condition. The violence is particularly rampant when it occurs at home, a place where women are supposed to be provided with safe family environment.

The current policy brief aimed at analyzing the monitored online print media outlets in cases when they covered the topic of sex selection and articles that were broadly linked to the value of girls and women. The content of web-based media outlets have been scrutinized to identify any statements or reporting that could have had distorted, untruthful or prejudicial elements against women or men. All these aspects were separately analyzed quantified and also handpicked, allowing analyzing the level of stereotypical reporting either as a media intention or as an absence of intention, leading to unobstructed penetration of prejudicial statements widely circulated in the society and back by reinstating the current state of the affairs.